05/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - “As far as the Commission is concerned, the case is not closed”, the spokesman for Neelie Kroes said on Tuesday when asked about the proposed merger between the Spanish motorway concessionary, Abertis, and the Italian company, Autostrade. The Commission continues with its analysis on the competitive aspect to know whether Rome's veto is compatible with Article 21, which gives it exclusive competence to deal with Community-scale mergers, he said. According to AFX, which quotes Emma Bonino, Italian Minister for European Affairs, the Italian government intends to answer Commissioner McCreevy's letter on Friday. McCreevy is concerned about possible violation of the rules on the free movement of capital (EUROPE 9256).